New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-26
THE TRIBUNE AND NEAL DOW

o,tcmnt;np to show want of consistency be-
tween THE TRIBUNE's expressions on the
drink evil in certain articles published TWO or
three years ago, and its present attitude on inc
high License bill. In quoting freely from
the articles referred to. General Dow has 1ort-
unateIy given his readers the anddotc with the
bane THE TRIBUNE has assuredly neither
apologies nor explanations TO make. There Is
no limo or word in its former general express
sions upon the evils of drink and tho importance
Of the subject which it does not stand to rcso-
ltcly. When it declared that this was the
most serious question of the ago it meant all
it said. II Prohibitonists arc so afflicted WIN
intellectual strabismns as to be lhcapaplc VI
recognizing the absolutcness Of the accord DC
tween our position then and orr position now.
ibe fact may be a cause for pity or reerc,' ou'
r. has no bearing upon The TRIBUNEs con-
sistencv and sincerity Were there nothing
bsvond this in the situation 1t would not NC
worth while to speak Of the matter, but Cen
oral Dow;s attack seems to afford an oppor-
tun;,v 70 emphasize the distinction between
rational temperance advocacy and the 1aha'icai
unrcason and suicidal bgotry which arc crys-
tallzed under The generic title OF Prohibition
II Is because THE TRIBUNE is true friend
Of Temperance because il realizes the extent
of the drink evil because 1t knows what inc
saloon in politics implies; that it supports the
lIiph-Liccnsc bill now pending at Albany. II
The TRIBUNE cared nothing for the reprcs-
sion of the rlm-shop; if it was Indifferent 10
the michicf worked by the saloons; IL IL were
merely DESTROYS Of seeming to oppose inc
liopor traffic for the sake of policy; 1t might
To- cxucctcd TO range itself with the Prohlbi-
,icnists IN This contest. If it were secretly Ill
alliance with the rum power if it were seeking
70 boodwink tho community If II Wished 10
run with the hare and hunt with the houhus
il would to-day bc found in the lromOiuoh
ranks marching shoulder to shoulder with INC
saloon-kcepers and General Dow ana Dr. uhN
and Mcssrs. Demarest, Merritt n TO-, and using
lie influence on behalf Of fIcc whlskcy IN Inc
ro,no Of total abstinence. But snco HE
Tp,prNr does not believe in the policy OF
rejecting all reform because it can only obtain
partial reform because 1t regards hali a ioa'
as much better than no bread because 1T secs
from the experience Of other communities that
High License can he trusted to diminish inc
drlnl, evil scnsiby: it approves and supports
this legislation. In so doing 1t feels ana knows
,hot il is doing the very best that IN the CIR
c,ms,anccs Is possible. II pcrcciycs that FRO
hihtion for Ncw-Yorl il utterly impractcablc.
but that High License. which is really partial
t.rohibtion. is practicable. And beng r'l'
,ional friend Of temperance reform. and repre-
senting the true friends OF temperance, IL ios
;c,uv consistently, and rightly takes and holds
this attitude.
The issue between sham temperance and
real temperance Is hereby squarciy drawn.
Sham temperance to-day and III Ncw-l ork Is
represented by the ProhibIioniss whose ac-
lions give the lie direct TO their professions
whose professions only serve TO emphasize the
mopstrous qualification of their deeds; who
having orcnly allied themselves with the rum
power fatuously cndcayor to disguise The pa
,cnt truth and TO dccry what is rs apparent ~
the sun at noon. Temperance III this city has
nothing TO hope or expect from the Prohibition
ists. That is settled hcncclorth. Those fuulc
agitators and incapable thinkers have turned
their backs upon tic cause they prcpostcrously
call their own They have confessed their
egotiem and self absorption in abandoning the
interests of the whole people rather than accept
n feasible reform which does not thrust their
unavoidable platform TO the front. Let them
90 their way They arc joined 10 their idols.
Let them alone. Tho true friends Of tenn
pcrance will 10 found. with The TRIBUNE,
urging forward the IIigh-Liccnse bill as the
one practical opportunity 10 restrict the liquor
traffic and TO diminish the most serious evil
done by the saloon. All who believe that the
way to accomplish real progress is TO educate
public opinion and then 10 bring legislation up
to The tidc-lcvel of majority sentiment. will per-
ccivo that the path entered upon is the right
one and that reform can 10 obtained in no
other manner Some day. perhaps. tho Pro-
biIiGonists who are now in shameful and fool.
ish alliance with the rum-sccrs will learn bet
ter, but THE TRIBUNE cannot loiter for their
sake. and assurcdly it will not swcryc from its
duty because Of their pcrvcrity.
4 QUEER CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE
English journalists arc not recognized os